A group of 21 handwritten, typed and printed documents from northern Mexico, dating to the turn of the century, (the earliest, 1885, the latest, 1905, with most clustered between 1896 and 1901), one of those documents actually signed in ink by Porfirio Diaz, (1830-1915), the Mexican general and politician who for seven terms totaling over 30 years was the president of Mexico...

An interesting view of the monumental Hagia Sophia rising above houses on either side and a man standing in a square(?) that is probably some distance from the mosque but with the perspective appears quite close. No writing in the negative and the identification of the view in pencil appears later than the image which is around 1880. It is attached to a thin paper page that from the roughness of the back side might have been an album page that was separated. The mat is protective...

A handwritten letter mounted on an old board, along with old photographic reproductions of two of the artist's works, by well listed French 19th century artist JEAN-JACQUES HENNER (1829-1905). The letter is entirely in French, written in old brown ink, on one page (though there are three other unused sides), and is undated. An old mat with hand-drawn and painted borders (removable) is fitted over openings made for the letter and photos...

2 albumen photographs pasted back-to-back on one page taken from a larger album. These are posed photographs, presumably of the teams. One is the Polo team and the other is I think the Cricket 11. Underneath both in pen is the notation, “Sandhurst 1877,” this refers to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. The polo players is 8 ¼ x 10 ½ inches and the Cricket players 8 3/8 x 10 ¾ inches...

Early vintage Albumen print mounted on coeval cardboard showing the Tombs of the Khalifs, general northern view of the complex of Farag Ibn Barquq. Condition: Photograph in good condition. Cardboard with few stains, upper right corner broken. Dimension: Photo 18,4 x 23,1 cm., cardboard 31,4 x 39,4 cm.

Early vintage albumen print of the two large bronze Kannons near the Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo, with children. Numbered in Japanese "277". Mounted on coeval cardboard. Condition: fine, minimally faded, left border of photo with a small loss. Dimension: photo: 21.4 cm x 27.4 cm, cardboard: 34.8 cm x 43.9 cm.

An original copper plate engraved map, with hand coloring of country outlines, and also in the cartouche, titled there, at lower left, "A Map of Turky, Arabia and Persia", the first edition by Georges de l'Isle in 1701, this being the somewhat later revised 1721 edition by noted cartographer of the day John Senex (1678-ca. 1740). This map, 19" by 23" (22 1/2" by 26 1/2" as framed) was considered to be the first modern map of the Arabian Peninsula before the middle of the 18th century...

This is an actual antique page (not a reprint) from the Illustrated London News issue of April 1, 1843, the article describing in detail the efforts at the time to manufacture a flying machine powered by a light weight steam engine. The decorative and most interesting page features three detailed drawings of these primitive contraptions, all of which failed; Kitty Hawk was sixty years in the future...

This is an original official WWII photo of fighter planes on the USS Bunker Hill set for take-off for the first attack on Rabaul, November 11, 1943; condition: very good; measurement: 8 x 10 in.

Two albumen photographs, mounted on opposite sides of a single sheet taken from an album. One photograph is of a mixed group of cricket players, ladies and a dog posing under some trees. Many of the men with their bats. It is titled in ink underneath “Keevil/1881.” Image is approx. 6 1/8 x 8 ¼ inches. The second photo is of a long line of archers and spectators in front of targets, with trees behind and a few men standing forward with their bows...

Albumen photograph of two Bedouin musicians seated in front of a backdrop with their string instruments. Numbered 613 and titled “Joueurs de violon Bedouins” in white in the negative and signed, “Bonfils.” The image is 8 ¾ x 11 inches (22.5 x 28 cm) mounted on card 11 x 13 ½ inches (28 x 34 ½ cm).

Condition; photo in good condition, though the contrast could be a little stronger. Mount discolored, some foxing and soiled along some edges.

An albumen photograph of the mountains Scuir-Uran and Scuir-an-Carnich rising behind what appears to be a stream that according to the caption in the negative feeds into Loch Duich in Ross-Shire. Loch Duich is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. The title includes the number 799 and the initials G.W.W. for George Washington Wilson (Scottish, 1823-1893). The photograph is 7 3/8 x 11 ½ inches (17.8 x 29.2 cm), the mat 14 x 17 inches (35.6 x 43.2 cm)...

For the collector of Victoriana or autographs of noted writers, here is an authentic signature of the English 19th century novelist and satirist WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY (1811-1863), found on what appears to be a library slip. The writing on the slip refers to the borrowing of the book "Histoire de la Reine Zarah et les Zarasiens", 1712. This little piece of history gives some indication of the reading habits of the famous author...

"Europe from the Best Authorities" published as the Act directs by C. Brightly & E. Kinnersley Bungay Suffolk August 24th, 1815. Copper engraved map with original
MEASUREMENTS: 10 ½ x 8 ¼ inches

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Scarce and desirable autograph signature of the 5th president of the United States, JOHN QUINCY ADAMS (1767-1848), **AND** of GEORGE GRAHAM (1772-1830), early Texas coast explorer/land grant commissioner, on a land grant document measuring 9" by 15", in a 7/8" wide simple wood frame. The land grant is referring to an 80 acre parcel in Wayne County, Michigan Territory (Detroit), and is dated February 1, 1827...

An albumen photograph of a gargoyle located high on Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Unknown photographer. Written in the negative in the lower right, “1003, Paris Notre Dame.” The gargoyle emerges from the waist up with a human torso, a dragons ridge on the back of the elongated neck, pointed ears, deep sunk eyes and a slit for a nostril in a rounded snout. 10 ½ x 8 inches (27 x 20 cm) mounted with transparent corners in a 16 x 20 inch (40.5 x 51 cm) mat...

Original, HAND SIGNED AND INSCRIBED black and white photo from 1965, of the 36th president of the United States, LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON (1908-1973). Johnson became president upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy in Dallas in 1963. He was elected to the office on his own in 1964. A Democrat, he oversaw the ramping up of the war in Vietnam and landmark social legislation. The photo is inscribed to one Ellen Oshim. The writing reads "To Ellen Oshim/with best wishes. / Lyndon B Johnson". On...

For the collector of things relating to the history of the state of Missouri, here is an early survey map drawn completely by hand, titled at top "Estate of Jos. Hickam decd. in 1848...", signed at bottom right by the surveyor, one W.W. Trent of Cooper County. Cooper County is near today's I-70, roughly between Boonville, Missouri and Columbia, Missouri. I googled these names and found considerable information on the surveyor, who apparently was in the records until at least 1889 from what I h...